UP to increase speeds on south-central Kansas line

Recent track improvements will allow Union Pacific to increase the speed of its trains from 40 mph to 49 mph on nearly 22 miles of its rail line in Kansas between Wellington and the Kansas/Oklahoma border.

The increased train speed typically reduces motorist wait time at crossings and improves railroad operating efficiency where UP has made track improvements.

Train speeds will be increased five mph on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, and another four mph on Saturday, Dec. 8, when the new maximum speed limit of 49 mph goes into effect.

UP invested $28 million this year on track improvements between Wellington and the Kansas/Oklahoma state line, which was instrumental to the speed increase on this section of its rail network. Crews replaced rail, installed switches, replaced ties and improved the road surfaces at crossings.